What Toys Are Good for Babies and When

You might be eager to play with your new bundle of joy, or excited to break open all of the toys you got for your baby! This basic guide will help you determine which types of toys are appropriate for your child as they grow!

At this age, babies are developing basic sensory and motor skills. They are learning to focus on objects, track movements, and begin to develop hand-eye coordination.

Soft Rattles: Gentle noise helps develop auditory skills.
High-Contrast Toys: Black and white toys help newborns focus and track.
Soft, Textured Toys: Helps babies begin to explore with their hands and mouth.
Mirrors: Babies start to explore their reflection, building visual and social skills.
Crib Mobiles: Stimulate visual tracking and focus.

Babies start developing better hand-eye coordination, more control over their limbs, and begin sitting up with support.

Soft Balls: Great for grasping and learning to roll.
Teething Rings: Provides relief as babies begin teething.
Activity Mats: Encourage tummy time and strengthen muscles for rolling over.
Play Gyms: Encourage reaching, batting, and grasping.
Squeaky Toys: Encourage auditory recognition and cause-and-effect learning.
6-9 Months
At this stage, babies can sit unsupported and are refining their ability to grasp and manipulate objects. They’re also becoming more aware of cause and effect.

Stacking Toys: Help with hand-eye coordination and understanding size and shape.
Soft Blocks: Encourage early building and manipulation skills.
Activity Cubes: Include various sensory activities like buttons to push, knobs to turn, and things to slide.
Interactive Books: Touch-and-feel books help engage senses and teach object recognition.
Musical Toys: Simple instruments or toys that play music introduce rhythm and cause and effect.
9-12 Months
Babies are becoming more mobile, likely crawling, pulling up to stand, and starting to walk. Their fine motor skills are rapidly improving.

Push-and-Pull Toys: Encourage walking and balance.
Shape Sorters: Help develop problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination.
Stacking Rings or Cups: Support understanding of size, order, and coordination.
Simple Musical Instruments: Shakers, drums, or xylophones help develop rhythm and auditory senses.
Soft Dolls or Stuffed Animals: Encourage imaginative play and emotional connection.
12-18 Months
Toddlers are becoming more mobile, and they can begin engaging in simple pretend play and building more complex motor skills.

Building Blocks: Encourage early construction and spatial awareness.
Ride-On Toys: Support gross motor development, balance, and coordination.
Simple Puzzles: Develop problem-solving and shape recognition.
Pretend Play Sets: Basic kitchen sets, dolls, or animal figurines foster imagination and role-play.
Interactive Books: Books with flaps to lift, buttons to press, or textures to feel help develop language and sensory skills.
18-24 Months
Toddlers are refining both fine and gross motor skills and becoming more social, enjoying play with others.

Sorting Toys: Help with shape, color, and pattern recognition.
Art Supplies: Non-toxic crayons or markers encourage creativity.
Simple Pretend Play Toys: Toy phones, tool sets, and dress-up clothes enhance imaginative play.
Balls: Encourage throwing, kicking, and hand-eye coordination.
Push Cars or Trucks: Encourage movement and imaginative play.
2-3 Years
Children in this age range are beginning to understand more complex concepts and enjoy imaginative, pretend play. They are building social skills and language, and developing their ability to follow directions.

Building Toys (e.g., Duplo or large Lego blocks): Support creativity, fine motor skills, and early construction abilities.
Art and Craft Sets: Encourage fine motor development and creativity.
Imaginative Play Sets: Kitchens, tool kits, and dollhouses promote storytelling and role-playing.
Musical Toys: Simple instruments like tambourines, maracas, or small keyboards.
Books with Stories: Books with simple plots that involve interaction (e.g., asking questions or turning flaps).
As babies grow, they become more capable of engaging in complex activities, so introducing toys that challenge their developing skills (while remaining age-appropriate) will help keep their development on track. Always make sure toys are safe and free from small parts that might present a choking hazard.